Dimension Data Supports First Cloud-Enabled G20 Leaders’ Summit
Provides infrastructure and wireless networking services, seamlessly connecting delegates and media
Singapore, 27 November 2014 – Dimension Data, the USD 6 billion global ICT solutions and services provider, has announced the successful delivery of the first ever
cloud-enabled G20 Leaders’ Summit in Brisbane, Australia.
Dimension Data provided the infrastructure and wireless networking services that kept more than 7,000 world leaders,
delegates and media connected during the event.
The Group of Twenty (G20) is the premier forum for international economic cooperation and decision-making. Its
membership comprises 19 countries and the European Union, while each year the G20 president invites several guest
countries to participate. Around 4,000 delegates and 3,000 media attended the Brisbane G20, most being international
guests.
Rodd Cunico, Dimension Data Australia CEO, said using cloud to deliver IT services at the Brisbane forum was a small
fraction of the cost compared to using traditional compute and storage, with the added benefit of delivering agility
that traditional models would not be able to provide.
“What makes this event unique is that we delivered all the services on a consumption basis – meaning there was no
capital expenditure for the Government, and it was not left with assets to depreciate once the event concluded. During
the event we hosted 700 concurrent thin client sessions from our Melbourne Managed Cloud Platform. Even when taking into
account the built-in redundancy with automatic failover to our Sydney MCP, the cost was still minimal compared to
traditional hardware models,” Cunico said.
He said providing a seamless end-user experience for every attending delegate and media representative was crucial, as
the event put Australia centre stage.
“Our aim was to ensure that as soon as the world’s leaders landed at Brisbane Airport, they could get on with the
business of governing the world without technology being an impediment.”
Cunico said attendees at this month’s G20 Leaders’ Forum represented 85 per cent of global GDP, and flawless
connectivity for media and delegates was fundamental to the event’s success.
“Australia hosted 32 world leaders, who needed world-class connectivity and that’s exactly what Dimension Data
supplied,” Cunico said.
“From day one, Dimension Data’s expertise and innovation ensured the Brisbane G20 Leaders’ Summit set the benchmark for
future G20 events.”
Cunico said showcasing Australian innovation was a key consideration when planning the networking infrastructure. He
said Dimension Data not only provided connectivity at the event itself but also at a number of single-use hotels
throughout Queensland reserved for G20 delegates.
“In everything we delivered we wanted to introduce as much innovation as possible, balanced against any potential risks,
in order to showcase the ingenuity of Australia and Australian IT.
“The reason the delivery was so successful was because of the people involved on the ground – I take great pride in
hiring the best talent available so we can deliver the best outcome possible.”
G20 networking infrastructure by the numbers:
• 10,000 mobile devices supported
• 700 concurrent thin client desktop sessions
• 300 wireless access points
• 220 tonnes of hardware
• Two Dimension Data Managed Cloud Platforms
• 112 Dimension Data personnel
• 14,000 resource hours
• 70 km of cabling
• Two km of duct tape
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